corby borough council local planreview borough...issues paper october 2003 5 | corby borough council...

Corby Borough Council

OCTOBER

LOCAL PLANCorby Borough Council

REVIEWISSUES PAPER

Corby Borough CouncilPlanning and Economic Regeneration ServicesDeene HouseNew Post Office SquareCorbyNorthamptonshire NN17 1GD

Telephone: 01536 464156Fax: 01536 464634

Email: [email protected]: www.corby.gov.uk

© 2003 Corby Borough Council

This information can be made available in other languages and formats upon request, such as large print, Braille, audio cassette and floppy disk. Please contact 01536 464164 for

further information.

GRETTON

WELDON

Rockingham

CottinghamMiddleton

East Carlton

Great Oakley Stanion

CORBY

To Stamford

To Oundle

To Thrapston

To Kettering

To Kettering

A14, M1 & M6

To Market

Harborough

To Uppingham

A427

A6166

A43

A427

A43

A6003

A6014

Introduction

Corby is poised to undergo substantial change. The Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan andCatalyst Corby’s Regeneration Framework both propose a doubling of the Borough’s population over thenext 30 years. Comprehensive regeneration of the existing town is proposed along with significant newdevelopment.

Key decisions about the future of the Borough are in the process of being made. It is your thoughts onand priorities for that change which this Issues Paper is about.

Key questions are being asked of you e.g. what you want for :

• Your home?

• Your employment?

• The environment where you live and which your children will grow up in?

• Your quality of life?

• The future of Corby?

When these are known we will try to ensure that they are reflected in the new Local DevelopmentFramework for the Borough.

Plan of the Borough

Issues Paper October 2003

1 | CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN REVIEW

The Local Development Framework will also bea land use document that sets out thedevelopment ideas and policy guidance andcriteria for development and new communityproposals.

The Framework will include of a series of LocalDevelopment Documents:

• A statement giving general planning policy• Site specific policies for areas not in action

plans• Action plans (which give maps and

detailed policies for areas of large scalechange)

• A Proposals Map• A Statement of Community Involvement• Supplementary Planning Guidance• Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic

Environmental Assessment

A Local Development Scheme is required to bedrawn up setting out which documents are to beproduced and a timetable for their presentation.

As the Local Planning Authority, Corby BoroughCouncil is required to produce a Local Plan toform part of the Development Plan forNorthamptonshire. The Local Plan is a land usedocument that identifies land for developmentwithin the Borough and sets out detailed policiesand criteria on which to assess developmentproposals.

However, new legislation (the Planning andCompulsory Purchase Bill) is being introduced in2004 which will require local authorities toprogress Local Development Frameworks toreplace their existing Local Plans.


The Local Development Framework1

CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN REVIEW | 2



The New Planning System2

National Legislation/CircularsPolicy Planning Guidance

Regional Spatial Strategy

Local Development Framework

Local Development Documents THE

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Diagram 1 The Proposed Planning System

Both the Regional Guidance and the Sub RegionalSpatial Strategy cover the period 2001 to 2021and the Corby Local Development Frameworkwill cover the same period.

The Sub-Regional Strategy proposes the use of aLocal Delivery Vehicle to lead and facilitate growthin the Corby/Kettering/Wellingborough area andthis could result in jointly proposed LocalDevelopment Frameworks. This proposal is underdiscussion and in the meantime work on theCorby Framework will continue.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill alsoproposes other changes to the Planning Systemwhich are briefly outlined below.

Currently the Development Plan for an areaincludes the County Structure Plan and a Boroughor District Local Plan. In future the DevelopmentPlan will include the new statutory RegionalSpatial Strategies and the new LocalDevelopment Frameworks. Structure Plans alongwith Local Plans will be abolished.

The Local Development Frameworks will have toconform to government guidance in the form ofPlanning Policy Guidance Notes and the RegionalSpatial Strategies. Diagram 1 shows the proposednew planning system.

For Corby, the emerging regional guidance, whichwill ultimately form the basis of the RegionalSpatial Strategy, is the Draft Revised RegionalPlanning Guidance for the East Midlands and theMilton Keynes and South Midlands Sub RegionalSpatial Strategy. The latter is based on the national“growth areas” as proposed by the SustainableCommunities Plan. It is important to Corby,Wellingborough and Kettering as all are includedin the same growth area.



The development of the Corby Framework willbe on the basis of an overall growth strategy inline with current national and local proposals. It isintended to have a draft completed in theSummer of 2004 and adoption by Winter 2005.This may mean that key growth issues will changeas the process unfolds.

Diagram 2 shows the proposed timetable and keystages in the process leading to formal adoptionof the Framework in 2005.

PROPOSED LOCAL DEVELOPMENTFRAMEWORK IN CORBY

Key Related Documents3

There are two key local documents that areimportant to the Local Development Framework.

The Framework must be closely linked to theBorough’s agreed Community Strategy, publishedin 2003. The Strategy was produced by the CorbyLocal Strategic Partnership that represents all theCorby community. It provides a vision for Corbyand includes Economic, Environment andCommunity Action Plans for joint implementation.

Diagram 2 The Proposed Timetable



The Community Strategy seeks to add value tothe work of each constituent organisation, andother partnerships, by:-

• Focussing on issues affecting the County and the East Midlands that impact on Corby and vice versa

• Co-ordinating service deliveryimprovment to make Corby a betterplace to live, work and play

• Integrating service delivery • Providing strategic direction to future

investment in the Borough• Linking the key plans of other agencies• Evaluating through performance measure

the achievement of objectives

The other document is Catalyst Corby’sRegeneration Framework, also published in 2003.It shares the same vision as the CommunityStrategy and proposes a comprehensiveregeneration of the Borough and substantialgrowth. The Borough Council has endorsed theaspirations of the Regeneration Framework.

The Framework seeks to:

• Double the town’s population by 2030 through new housing development andthe refurbishment of the existing areas

• Develop over 350ha of employment land,involving the attraction of added valuejobs that will broaden the economicstructure of the town.

• Redevelop the town centre to create a range of new retail, leisure, commercialand civic facilities.

• Create integrated transport facilities that will deliver better public transport acrossthe town.

Catalyst Corby was one of the first UrbanRegeneration Companies set up by governmentin 2000 to transform key areas in need of radicalchange.



The Local Development Framework4

This part of the paper seeks to identify the key subjects and issues that the Development Frameworkmust address. Important questions are posed, but they are not an exhaustive list. The purpose of thequestions is to help you formulate views on the Corby of the future that you can then pass onto us.

Our Vision

The Development Framework needs to be clear on what it is helping achieve.The common vision ofthe Community Strategy and Regeneration Framework will therefore be adopted to give it both aimand direction i.e. Corby as a confident, successful, balanced, prosperous community, that is widelyadmired as distinctive, progressive and energetic.

A community which will exceed expectations – Corby will be different, will innovate, and implementbetter solutions with conviction.

The Development Framework will provide the land use context to help us all achieve the vision.

Our Objectives

To help achieve our vision we propose to establish the following key objectives. We must ensure:

• the growth of the Borough is on target to double the population within the next 30 years• the regeneration of the existing Borough is in line with that growth• there are clear links and balances between the provision of jobs, houses and transport• there is social balance and that improvements to shopping, education, health, transport,

community and recreational facilities are for the benefit of all.• the new development areas identified minimise impact on landscape, agriculture, nature,

flood risk, drainage, historic and cultural assets.• development minimises the use of resources especially non-renewable ones• everyone’s quality of life improves



Q1DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ANY OTHER KEY OBJECTIVES OR FACTORS THATSHOULD BE CONSIDERED?

Housing

Corby is earmarked for substantial housing growth – the provision of which is probably the biggest issueto be considered. The Community Strategy wishes to improve the quality and range of housing

available in Corby. Catalyst Corby supports thisview and seeks a wide range of housingopportunities to be created in urban areas andedge of settlement developments to promote abalanced growth within the Borough.

The Draft Sub-Regional Strategy suggests thatthere could be new development to theNortheast, Northwest, South, Southwest and Westof the town, with 16,000 new dwellings allocatedfor the Borough in the next 20 years.

This implies a building rate of:

• 620 dwellings per annum to 2011• 980 dwellings per annum to 2021

It is estimated that 10,500 of the new homeswould need to be built in urban extensions andwithin rural villages.

The Sub-Regional Strategy indicates that themajority of this will need to be provided in theform of urban extensions – development whichextends existing urban areas through the provisionof housing, shops, employment and othercommunity facilities – and that such extensions may spread into the neighbouring authorities ofKettering and East Northamptonshire.

Sustainable Development

Underpinning the Development Framework will be our commitment to achieve development whichis sustainable as defined by the Government and as described by Catalyst Corby as “at the heart” ofthe vision i.e.

• The maintenance of high and sustainable levels of economic growth and employment• Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone• Effective protection of the environment• Prudent use of natural resources



Q2WHICH AREAS DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS URBAN EXTENSIONS?

Q3IS THERE SCOPE FOR FURTHER GROWTH TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN OUR EXISTINGVILLAGES?

Current national policy guidance indicates newhousing should be built at an average density of noless than 30 dwellings per hectare e.g. the OakleyVale development is at this density:

In Corby many houses are of a similar size anddensity and the Borough needs wider housingchoice including more higher cost housing.

Q4DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW FLEXIBILITY IN HOUSING DENSITY e.g.DENSITIES HIGHER THAN 30 DWELLINGS per HECTARE IN URBAN AREAS WITHGOOD ACCESS AND FACILITIES?

Corby has an excess of affordable housing i.e. low cost homes to rent or buy, yet no guidance on itsfuture provision within the Borough is contained in the Regional or Sub-Regional documents. More willhowever be required and it is of particular importance in rural areas where house prices can often bebeyond the reach of young local people.

Q5DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD SEEK AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO RENT OR BUY ON ALLNEW DEVELOPMENTS IN:

a) URBAN LOCATIONS;b) RURAL / VILLAGE LOCATIONS; ORc) BOTH ?

Current Building Regulations require all newhouses to have wheelchair access wherepracticable, but not to cater for special needs of afull mobility standard.

The Framework could require a proportion ofnew houses for such circumstances.

Q6SHOULD WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE LEVEL OF PROVISION FOR SPECIALNEEDS/FULL MOBILITY HOUSES IN THE FRAMEWORK?



Q8HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THE FRAMEWORK PROVIDES ITS OWN GUIDANCE INRELATION TO DESIGNING OUT CRIME?

Employment

If Corby is to grow as proposed, new employmentopportunities within the Borough need to bemade available. Corby has, at present, one of themost self-sufficient labour markets in the Countyi.e. 80% of the economically active work within theBorough.

The economy is mainly manufacturing based andthis accounts for approximately 50% of allemployment within the Borough.

The Community Strategy identifies a number ofkey economic priorities including encouraging

major international and national businesses to locate in Corby and also creating a culture ofentrepreneurship amongst small local firms. Catalyst Corby’s Regeneration Framework establishes aneed for new investment and advocates diversifying the economic base of Corby.

Both the Community Strategy and Catalyst Corby seek to develop a high-tech engineering sector tolink in with motor sport opportunities such as the Rockingham Motor Speedway.

Crime and the fear of crime are currently important issues both nationally and locally and are thereforekey considerations for the framework. The Borough has its own Community Safety Strategy, andrelated initiatives such as CASPAR. At a County level there is an emerging planning guidance availableon “Designing Out Crime”. The Community Safety Strategy seeks to create a safer environment for all,as a recent crime audit reported that the majority of residents felt unsafe in their neighbourhoods aswell as in the town centre.

Q7DO YOU AGREE THAT THE FRAMEWORKSHOULD INCLUDE DESIGN GUIDANCEFOR ALL NEW DEVELOPMENTS?

In Corby, there are many large estates of similardesign and little in the urban area of individualdesign. Guidance can be provided on the design ofnew housing developments and extensions toexisting houses. Many villages in the Boroughintend producing their own Village DesignStatements.

Q10DO YOU THINK THE FRAMEWORK SHOULD CONTINUE TO SEEK THE SEPERATIONOF INDUSTRY AND HOUSING, OR ENCOURAGE EMPLOYMENT IN EXISTING AND NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS?



Q9WHERE SHOULD NEW EMPLOYMENT BE LOCATED?

a) WITHIN EXISTING AND NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS b) WITHIN THE TOWN CENTREc) ON EXISTING AND NEW INDUSTRIAL ESTATESd) ON BROWNFIELD LANDe) A MIXTURE OF THE ABOVEf) OTHER

Q11WHAT SORT OF EMPLOYMENT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TOLOCATE IN CORBY?

The Sub-Regional Strategy states there should be an increase in the range and quality of employmentopportunities through office development, with an emphasis on high value knowledge based industries.Catalyst Corby promotes similar proposals.

Corby has grown with very separate land use areas. Most of the industry is on the east and housingon the west. There is little mix of employment and residential areas. Public transport links andpedestrian/cycle routes between the areas are poor.



Q15WHAT 3 ASPECTS OF THE EXISTING TOWN DO YOU LIKE MOST,AND WHAT 3ASPECTS DO YOU LIKE LEAST?

Q14WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE FUNDAMENTAL IN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TOVISIT AND UTILISE THE TOWN CENTRE ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS?

Q12HOW CAN THE FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGE MORE TRANSPORTATION OF GOODSINTO AND OUT OF CORBY BY RAIL FREIGHT?

Largely due to changing technology there is an increase in the number of people working from home.This is likely to become more widespread in future.

Q13WHAT EMPLOYMENT USES WITHIN HOMES SHOULD THE FRAMEWORKENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT?

Town Centre

The Community Strategy advocates the redevelopment of the town centre to provide exceptionalfacilities for residents and visitors. Catalyst Corby views as fundamental for a successful Corby, a vibranttown centre which will rekindle civic pride and stimulate investment. The Development Frameworkshould aim to realise these ambitions by creating a town centre that is vibrant and attractive to all.

Transport

National transport policy aims to reduce the need for travel especially by car. The Framework has animportant role to play in helping achieve that aim locally by:

• Including policies which seek to locate areas where people live and work close together• Including policies to ensure shopping, health, leisure and other facilities are provided locally where

people live and work• Encouraging high residential densities in areas of good public transport• Reducing facilities for cars in areas of good public transport

In Corby most employment areas are road served and this is placing more and more heavy goodsvehicles on the road network. Opportunities do exist to seek an increase in rail freight.



Q16WHICH OF THE ABOVE MEASURESWOULD YOU CONSIDER ASPRIORITIES?

The Draft Sub-Regional Strategy identifies the needfor key transport. Improvements including thebetter bus services, the A43 Corby Link Road and aCorby rail connection.

Further new transport will also be required asCorby grows.

Catalyst Corby and the Community Strategy givekey priority to the re-establishment of a passengerrail service for Corby.

Q17WHAT OTHER ROAD, RAIL AND TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TOSEE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK TO DELIVER A BALANCED AND SUSTAINABLETRANSPORT SYSTEM WITHIN CORBY?

Leisure and Recreation

Leisure is central to the life of local communities as well as to individuals. It brings pleasure, broadenshorizons and enhances health and quality of life. It can also provide environmental benefits.

Culture and creativity are also vital to the life ofCorby and its people. Interest in traditional pursuitsis high but in others such as theatres and the artsit is much lower. Commercial facilities in theBorough reflect this but expectations are changingand increasing. The Community Strategy, in linewith national, regional and sub-regional thinking,recognises this. It seeks to improve the range andquality of leisure and cultural facilities and access tothem for all. The Development Framework shouldhelp aid that provision.

Government guidance states that large leisure facilities such as cinemas, sports centres and swimmingpools should be provided in town centres or sites with good access to public transport. Other smallerfacilities, such as pubs and restaurants, may be more traditionally located in local neighbourhoods.

• Looking to enhance public transport provision by both road and rail• Promoting the need for a town centre passenger railway station and public transport interchange• Encouraging the introduction of a rapid transit system• Reducing the amount of parking available in new development and promote green travel plans• Improving existing path and cycleways network and provide new ones



Q20WHAT PRIORITIES DO YOU THINK THE FRAMEWORK NEEDS TO ADOPT INRELATION TO SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION?

Q19UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE FOROPEN SPACE TO BE UTILISED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND WHERE?

Social Infrastructure

It is intended that the Framework will seek theprovision of the necessary social infrastructuresuch as schools, medical facilities and communitycentres. This is in addition to the transport andother facilities required.

The Community Strategy prioritises the need toprovide better health facilities and improve HealthEducation, as well as increase educationalattainment and vocational achievement. CatalystCorby have similar aspirations.

Corby is already benefiting from being designatedas both an Education and Health Action Zone bythe Government, although improvements in bothareas continue to be required. Corby has a rangeof community facilities including village halls, localcommunity facilities and buildings used by variousvoluntary groups and organisations.

These will however, need to be added to as thetown’s population grows.

Q18WHAT LEISURE FACILITIES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHERE SHOULDTHEY BE LOCATED?

Open space is an important element of leisure.The Development Framework should look toprovide a balance of different types of open spacewhich are varied e.g. parks of all sizes, playing fields,green corridors, tree belts and nature areas. Theseareas are important not just for recreation but alsoto provide visual amenity, wildlife habitats, and helpform clear boundaries between areas,neighbourhoods and streets and buildings. Theseareas are however, often under pressure to bedeveloped.



Agricultural Land

The agricultural land within the Borough varies inquality depending on whether it was previouslyquarried and restored or untouched. It will beunder pressure from developers given theproposed level of growth for the Borough.

The Framework will look to minimise the loss ofagricultural land by seeking the use of previouslydeveloped land before agricultural land isconsidered i.e. a sequential approach.

Q21THE FRAMEWORK WILL ADOPT A SEQUENTIAL APPROACH TO ALLOCATINGLAND FOR DEVELOPMENT. WHAT MEASURES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THEFRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THAT THIS APPROACH IS EFFICIENT ANDSUCCESSFUL?

Heritage

Corby is essentially an urban Borough but set in thewider Northamptonshire countryside. There areseven villages in the Borough of which 5 haveConservation Area status. The villages andcountryside are under constant and increasingchange. The sense of rural character could beprotected by the Framework which could also bemore responsive to farm diversification and tourismrelated activities.

The Borough also has a rich historic heritage and ishome to notable buildings such as Kirby Hall andRockingham Castle as well as smaller monumentssuch as the Roundhouse at Weldon and RomanRoad through Hazel Wood. Around the attractiveironstone villages there is a wealth of archaeologicalsites and the Lloyds Estate is acknowledged as an architectural feature of its time.

Corby Old Village in the town is also recognisable as part of the town’s heritage.

Q22WHAT MEASURES SHOULD THE FRAMEWORK INCLUDE TO BEST PROTECT ANDENHANCE CORBY’S RURAL AND HISTORIC HERITAGE?



Q24WHAT EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGESYSTEMS?

Renewable Energy

The Government is seeking to reduce ourdependence on fossil fuels like oil and gas. It wantsmore use of renewable energy resources such assolar power, wind turbines, biomass power stations.

These can however have an impact on the localbuilt environment, on the surrounding landscapeand agricultural operations.

Q25SHOULD THE FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGE ALL NEW RENEWABLE ENERGYDEVELOPMENTS, OR ARE THERE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS THATSHOULD BE DISCOURAGED? ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR LOCATIONS WHEREENCOURAGED DEVELOPMENTS WOULD BE MORE SUITABLY LOCATED?

Local Nature

The Borough contains County Wildlife Sites, Sitesof Special Scientific Interest and Local NatureReserves. The area is rich in limestone grassland,which contains a wealth of botanical and animal lifewith recognised priority habitats. Many of thesesites are close to urban areas and could bepotential development sites.

Q23WHAT BALANCE SHOULD THEFRAMEWORK PLACE ON THEPROTECTION OF THESE SITES ANDTHE NEED FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT?

Water and Flooding

Access to water is a basic need and we must protect water supplies from pollution. Undergroundwater systems provide a source of water supply and also keep our rivers flowing and reservoirs full. Itis important that these systems are continually recharged. One way is by incorporating SustainableUrban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in new developments.

These aim to slow down and clean water flows running into drains and watercourses. This involvesthe use of open ditches, permeable surfaces and balancing reservoirs/lakes and also helps protectagainst flooding by slowing the rate of water discharge into drains and rivers.



Mineral Resources

The town of Corby has largely been built because of the availability of mineral resources. There remainreserves in the form of limestone, ironstone and gravel.

Q26WHAT CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD THE FRAMEWORK TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TOBALANCE THE NEED TO PROTECT MINERAL RESERVES WITH THE ALLOCATION OFLAND FOR DEVELOPMENT?

Pollution

Pollution can take many forms. The Borough has the legacy of its steelmaking past and has seen manymajor land restoration projects.

Pollution also exists in water, light, air and through noise.

Q27WHAT MEASURES SHOULD THE FRAMEWORK ADOPT SO AS TO REDUCE ORAVOID INCREASING ALL TYPES OF POLLUTION?



Q29DO YOU THINK CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL SHOULD IDENTIFY AND USE ITSPOWERS OF LAND ASSEMBLY TO SECURE THE REGENERATION OF KEY AREAS?

Making It Work5

The Framework cannot just be a reference document it has to be able to influence development andin cases promote change and enforce improvements. It can do this by:

• Controlling the type of development• Encouraging certain type of development• Providing for land assembly• Providing for planning agreements

The Council can use Planning Agreements to assistthe provision of necessary infrastructure. Thereare legal agreements between developers and theCouncil to carry out or pay for certain works orprovide benefits in connection with adevelopment. In doing so the requirement mustbe fair and reasonable, relevant, and arise from theneed of the development.

They can be used to secure such things asaffordable housing, new roads, public transport, cycle routes, open spaces, community centres, culturalfacilities etc. They cannot however be used to fund existing deficiencies.

Q28WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS THATPLANNING AGREEMENTS COULD SECURE?

The Council has powers of land assembly where important development is not being brought forwardbecause of the landowner’s reluctance to bring land onto the market.



The responses to this Issues Paper will be analysed and reported to the Council’s Local Plan Committeefor consideration and direction. The result of the consultation will also be available for public inspection.Between now and the end of the year the Council will also be undertaking various background studiesfor the Development Framework. These are factual databases with which the Community Involvementand Strategic Guidance are assessed to formulate options for the Framework.

IF YOU WANT FURTHER INFORMATION

Visit Planning and Economic Regeneration Services at the Deene House Offices

Fax us on 01536 464634

Telephone us on 01536 464156

E-mail us on [email protected]

Visit our web site at www.corby.gov.uk

Write to us atPlanning and Economic Regeneration Services, Deene House, New Post Office Square, Corby, Northants, NN17 1GD

If you wish to be kept informed of new publications or developments in the Local Plan process thenplease inform us and provide details of your address and/or your e-mail address.

What Happens Next?6

Corby Borough Council

OCTOBER

LOCAL PLANCorby Borough Council

REVIEWISSUES PAPER

Corby Borough CouncilPlanning and Economic Regeneration ServicesDeene HouseNew Post Office SquareCorbyNorthamptonshire NN17 1GD

Telephone: 01536 464156Fax: 01536 464634

Email: [email protected]: www.corby.gov.uk

© 2003 Corby Borough Council

This information can be made available in other languages and formats upon request, such as large print, Braille, audio cassette and floppy disk. Please contact 01536 464164 for

further information.